2000, Number 2
Reproducibility of the Saint George questionnaire, spanish version, in mexican patients with chronic obstructive lung disease
Aguilar EMG, Sotelo MMC, Lara RAG, García FA, Sansores MRH, Ramírez VA
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 11
Page: 85-95
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ABSTRACT
Introduction. Evaluation of quality of life is an important factor in the control and management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire, designed to evaluate quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma has proved to be a useful, valid and reliable instrument in other countries. However, it is always necessary to test the capacity of a measuring instrument to repeat obtained results. Objective. To determine the reliability of the Spanish version of the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Material and methods. The test-retest reliability of the Spanish version of the Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire was tested in 29 patients by applying the questionnaire twice by the same observer with a time difference of 24 hours and by a second observer with a time difference of 4 hours. All patients had spirometry, arterial blood gas measurements at rest and pulse oximetry. In order to determine the reliability of the questionnaire, the intra-observer (IO) and inter-observer (INO) correlation was evaluated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (r1) and the coefficient of variation (CV) for intra and inter-observer variability. Results. Functional evaluation of all patients revealed a decrease in the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), in PaO2 and in the degree of oxygen saturation. The r1IO and the r1 INO for “symptoms” was 0.70 and 0.74 respectively; for “activities” it was 0.87 and 0.80; for “impact” it was 0.70 and 0.82 and for “total” it was 0.81 and 0.66 respectively. The CV IO ranged from 9 to 17% and the CV INO from 8 to 12%. Although reliability was good, it was lower than values obtained in the original studies. Conclusions. In general terms, reliability of the Saint George Questionnaire renders it useful to evaluate quality of life. Results of the present study suggest that the Mexican version is conceptually equivalent to the Spanish version, and also to the original, and is similarly reliable and valid. Further studies should be performed to make this instrument a basic tool in the management and control of quality of life in Mexican patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.REFERENCES